Lucy Stone investigates the murder of a barkeep who not only cheated but was rumored to have connections with the Irish Republican Army. The confusion surrounding the death is only compounded by the arrival of Dylan Malone, Old Dan's brother, who’s come to direct the production of Finian's Rainbow for the church on St. Patrick’s Day. Was Old Dan killed by someone he'd cheated or someone he'd loved?

Although Lucy first reported the story of the murder, she gets bumped off as her boss thought it too dangerous. So, she decides to help Dylan’s wife Moira and daughter Deirdre. Moira turns out to be very dramatic and loudly accusatory towards others, which keeps things stirred up and fun. A lot of the story involves Lucy and her family and their issues, big and small. Far-fetched at the end but a decent and enjoyable story. ( )

My recipe for a great holiday-themed cozy: a mystery that’s not too easy to solve. Check! Small-town characters that have you snorting and smiling the entire time. Check! I just love Tinker’s Cove, Maine and its lobstermen. Lots of zany holiday-themed occurrences so you can’t forget what day is approaching. Yay, this had that in spades, from a murder in an Irish bar, to the brother and mysterious red-haired wife coming back to Tinker’s cove to claim the property, a cool look at an Irish funeral, complete with keening, traditional Irish food and fiddle playing, a daughter obsessed with faeries, a town play about leprechauns, and lots of Blarney… this went all out on the St. Patrick’s Day references!

Part of the fun of this series is following the familiar characters of Tinker’s Cove from book to book. Lucy Stone’s children are a hoot, whether they’re being typical teens, or endearingly sweet. And the way the mystery twisted and turned in this one was fun!

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
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Lucy Stone is at it again. His name was Old Dan Malone. In Tinker's Cove, Maine, when the barkeep's body was found in the harbor, Lucy made it her aim to discover what happened. But, as usual when it comes to Lucy, a wife, mother, reporter and affable amateur sleuth, she discovers that more than a murder has taken place.

What else is going on? For starters, the town's local musician Dave Reilly claims that he was conned by Old Dan and thus lost a winning lottery ticket. Then another man said that the victim stiffed him while doing a handyman job. Others have similar complaints. Then there is a visitor in town from Ireland, in the person of Dylan Malone, none other than the brother of Old Dan.

The ever-busy Lucy is attending town's meetings, writing articles, is about to be a first-time grandmother, and has just joined a chorus. One of the newest chorus members is Moira, Dylan Malone's wife. Lucy also meets Moira's daughter Deidre, a fanciful little girl who adores fantasy, and becomes a new friend to Lucy and husband Bill's youngest daughter, Zoe.

Having read all of the previous stories in the series to-date, I looked forward to reading St. Patrick's Day Murder. As always, there was a multi-layered murder mystery, along with the strong sense of family when it came to Lucy.

This case is particularly gruesome, as the body was missing something critical. As Lucy dug deeper, the sense of danger rose. There was even some involvement with the children in this story. There was also a bit of lore in this book, as the story centered around St. Patrick's Day, which actually made it a timely read at this time. This was an engaging read that I was able to complete in one sitting. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, Mother's Day Murder. ( )

Making dinner, doing laundry, taking her kids to school, and writing stories about dead bodies for The Penny Saver - it’s just another day in the life of Lucy Stone. But this dead body is a bit different from most: it’s headless. Though this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, the real pleasure of the series lies in the character growth and development from story to story. There are some scary moments for Lucy in this installment, and yes, the murder and solution were a bit far-fetched, it was still a good, entertaining read. ( )

A real page turner that sounds like she will be adding a new family to to town. However, I have to say I was grossed out by the beheading. I MEAN EW!!! ( )